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May 23, 2006Malware spread through instant messaging programs on the rise.
Several security firms
announced a few days ago that a worm, dubbed "Yhoo32.explr" by
Instant Message security vendor FaceTime Communications and "Browaf"
by Symantec is installed when
Yahoo users click on a malicious link embedded within an instant
message.
This Yahoo IM Worm Hijacks browsers
and plays extremely unpleasant Music
Yhoo32.explr downloads and installs a phony feature named "Safety
Browser," which adds an IE-like icon to the desktop. When used, it
redirects to sites where users PCs are infected with adware and
spyware.
The worm hijacks Internet Explorer's home page, directing users to
the Safety Browser's Web site. The user cannot uninstall the
program.
According to security experts, PC users should watch for links in
the message box of IM, which may say "Goat_Ensem Bot" with a smiley.
If the user clicks the link, at least one warning will be displayed
to tell the user that software is about to be downloaded or
installed and that this may be malicious. IM users are advised not
to click unexpected or un-requested links.
FaceTime has posted screenshots and a comprehensive
description of the infection process
on its May 19 blog posting
at http://blog.spywareguide.com.
If youre a Yahoo Instant Message'er, its worth your time to check
this blog Post so youll know what to avoid. And do your Yahoo and
other IM and Chat Room buddies a big favor by warning them, too.
...Richard |
May 20, 2006 There's Danger lurking behind
some innocent looking search terms
Where would you look if you wanted to change
your screensaver for a new one, or select a different ringtone for
your mobile phone? Google, Yahoo, MSN Search, of course. And with
thousands of sources for free downloads and hundreds of thousands of
results from your search, it's no wonder that unscrupulous websites
have infected some of the free downloads with spyware, spam, and
dangerous downloads.
According to a report from BBC News, the
search term "free scareensavers" produced search results where
two thirds of those sites caused problems.
A British research group entered nearly 1400 popular search
terms into a half dozen search engines and identified 8 of the most
dangerous Search Words. The most dangerous search term was
"free screensavers." The 8 Most Dangerous Search Terms are:
Free
screensavers
Limewire *
Bearshare *
Download
Yahoo Messinger
Screensavers
Lime Wire *
Winmx *
Free
Ringtones
(*) File Sharing Software
Using security flaws and
loopholes in the browsers, some websites install hidden software
which can allow the PC to be hijacked or lead to the loss of
personal data. The BBC reported that among all of the
searches, up to 6 percent of the sites were flagged as dangerous.
Does this mean that we shouldn't search for free downloads? Not
really. But it does mean that we have to be diligent, download from
recognized vendors whenever possible, and have all of our security
software up-to-date - firewalls, anti-virus and anti-spyware.
May 14,
2006Tell Congress to preserve the free
and open Internet today.
Do you buy books
online, use Google, or download to an Ipod? These activities, plus
MoveOn's* online organizing ability, will be hurt if Congress
passes a radical law that gives giant corporations more control over
the Internet.
The House of Representatives will soon vote on whether or not to
preserve Internet freedomand our fight to protect Network
Neutrality is gaining huge momentum.
Google, Amazon, MoveOn, Gun Owners of America. All these entities
are fighting back as Congress tries to pass a law giving a few
corporations the power to end the free and open Internet as we know
it.
Internet providers like AT&T and Verizon are lobbying Congress hard
to gut Network Neutrality, the Internet's First Amendment. Net
Neutrality prevents AT&T from choosing which websites open most
easily for you based on which site pays AT&T more. Amazon doesn't
have to outbid Barnes & Noble for the right to work more properly on
your computer.
If Net Neutrality is gutted, MoveOn either pays protection money to
dominant Internet providers or risks that online activism tools
don't work for members. Amazon and Google either pay protection
money or risk that their websites process slowly on your computer.
That why these high-tech pioneers are joining the fight to protect
Network Neutrality[1]--and you can do your part today.
The SavetheInternet.com Coalition now has 524 member organizations,
637,386 petition signatures to Congress, 3,251 blog links, and 5,634
MySpace friends. We will only win this fight if the public is
mobilized, Congress is bombarded from all angles, and word spreads
around the Internet like prairie fire.
The free and open Internet is under seige--can you sign this
petition letting your member of Congress know you support preserving
Network Neutrality?
Click here to sign Petition
Thanks for participating in this Rescue effort...
Posting this Alert does not imply that I support
all of the MoveON organization's political views.
...Richard
*MoveOn.org is a member of The SavetheInternet.com Coalition...
which is made up of groups from across the political spectrum that
have banded together to save the First Amendment of the Internet:
network neutrality. No corporation or political party is funding
these efforts.
May 11,
2006Identity Theft - Scams - Check Fraud
- Free information on
avoiding them
Just this week, my local Bank Vice President addressed our Chamber
of Commerce and reviewed the alarming increase in Identity theft,
Check Fraud and phony phishing attempts - mainly aimed at
susceptible senior citizen clients of his bank.
But, it's not just the
Seniors who are being targeted.
How many phony E Bay and PayPal phishing attempts hit your email
every day?
There's hardly a day that goes by without them appearing in my
email. Added to these attempts at theft are the scams arriving by
regular mail. How many lotteries have you won?
I've been advised that there are thousands of dollars in winnings
waiting for me in Spain, or Argentina, or many other places that
I've never visited. All I need to do to get this money is send a few
thousand dollars to help the lottery agents get these winnings to
me.
Yes, you bet! But the sad thing is that many - many - people
are actually seduced by these scams. Our Banker reported that his
organization has been able to save many of their clients from
financial disaster - but only when the bearers of these scam
messages check them out with knowledgeable bank employee.
Check fraud, even phony
Cashier's Checks can trap the unsuspecting person. The scammers
never stop devising devious ways to steal from us.
So the message here is to be Alert, Diligent, even suspicious of
anything that sounds too good to be true, or just looks to be out of
place in the normal order of our lives.
And it's a reminder that you can be armedwith all of the vital information
you need to secure your identity, avoid falling for the scams, know where to turn, what to do,
and how to respond if you ever have the sad misfortune of becoming a
victim.
You can learn it for Freefrom my
"MASTER
E-COURSE in IDENTITY THEFT and OTHER SCAMS" by simply
sending a blank email to
identity@prosender.com. There will be no commercial follow up
messages. ... Richard
May 2, 2006
A breach in your personal privacy
protection could easily lead to
hackers, online, and offline thieves stealing your identity.
The threat of Identity Loss exists on more
than the Internet. The potential for the theft of our identities is
everywhere around us. Read on to learn how you can protect yourself-
for Free.
Nearly everyone is aware that Identity
Theft is a serious crime and that people whose identities have
been stolen can spend months or years - and their hard-earned money
- cleaning up the mess thieves have made of their good name and
credit record.
In the meantime, those victims could lose job opportunities, be
refused loans, education, housing or cars, or even get arrested for
crimes they didn't commit.
Daily vigilance at home, in the work place and on the internet is
necessary to reduce the risk of Theft of your Identity. Scams and
fraud face all of us everywhere and there is the potential of being
spied upon both off the internet and on. Every Family Member should
be a participant in your personal security protection efforts.
Despite our best efforts to manage the flow of personal
information or to keep it to ourselves, skilled Identity Thieves
use a variety of methods to gain access to our personal data.
Can we fight back? Yes! One of the best ways is to be
informed of the tricks and ploys used by Identity Theft criminals
and to understand how they attack.
Forewarned is Forearmed!
And you can be fully armed with all of the vital information
you need to secure your identity, know where to turn, what to do,
and how to respond if you ever have the sad misfortune of
becoming a victim.
There's a lot to know, and you can learn it from our Free
"MASTER
E-COURSE in IDENTITY THEFT and OTHER SCAMS".
With the generous assistance of Victor K Pryles, a popular
media consultant, radio broadcaster, publisher and Author, we
developed this e-course to arm you, your family and your friends
against the devastating consequences of Identity Theft
It really does cover everything you need to know to protect
yourselves.
In fact, it is so meaty with USEFUL, VITAL information each
lesson only arrives every four days - so you can institute what you
learn AS YOU GO THRU THE LESSONS. There are eight lessons, in
total.
After taking this Free course, you'll be protected, wise, savvy and
safe, because you'll learn
* How Identity Theft Occurs
* How to prepare your defenses
* How to tell if you're a victim
* Immediate steps for victims to take
* Where and How to get your free Credit Reports
This is a Free course for followers of my Security Alert Blog,
newsletter and website and you will not get any commercial
announcements.
After you send your blank email to the address above, you will be
sent a CONFIRMATION email. You must click the link inside to
start your E-Course. This way, no one can sign you up without your
knowledge.
I do hope you sign-up and share it with
your family and friends. You can print each lesson and have your own
hard copy of the manual, or you might prefer to share the email
address above so your friends can get their own lessons.
It's Free to them, too. Thank you.
If you would like the Premium Audio version of "Identity
Theft & Other Scams" please visit:
http://creativepops.com/ID/index.html ..... Richard Rossbauer
PS. When you receive your first lesson, Victor will give you a
Complimentary copy of: "The Top 501 Most Inspirational Quotes!" from
his "ilovebooks" book club. In the meantime, you might like to check
out some of his inspiring books in his
Author's Den
May 1, 2006
Stinger updated as of April
5, 2006to include
protection against the
W32/Sober@MM!M681 worm.
Add this
protection to your new computer update your backup protection for
your existing machines
STINGER,
the Free virus checking and removal
tool (compliments of McAfee's Anti-virus and Vulnerability Emergency
Response Team -
AVERT)
was
updated April 5, 2006.
It's a great
little program that fits neatly on a floppy disc - a perfect way to
clean up your computer if a worm or other 'rogueware' has disabled
your ability to get back on the Internet to update your
security ware.
Whenever updated versions becomes available, I'll post
a notice here, on the Firewalls and Virus Protection website and
in the Security Alert News Reporter. Download the current version
here at McAfee
STINGER
Please let me hear from you.
Your comments are really appreciated. Try to avoid anything inappropriate (hateful, abusive,
explicit, etc.), they'll be deleted before posting.
Please stick to the theme of "Security Awareness and Safety on the
Internet'. Your email address will never be displayed and will not
be shared with third parties.
.... Richard Rossbauer
June, 2006 UPDATED) Use RSS
Readers to
add current Web Feeds to
automatically update your daily reading lists
More and more of my favorite websites, newsletters and blogs
display
|XML|RSS|
buttons.
Now, even more display the
button. Clicking on it automatically adds that feed to my personal
MyYahoo page. If you don't have a Free 'MyYahoo' page, it's very easy to get one from the Yahoo site.
The same is true for
and
Using RSS feeds has saved a lot of time!, I don't have to go on a search for the latest
information published on my favorite sites -- every new bit of information, post, or
announcement appears in my RSS Reader. (The new IE7 browser is expected to
refer to these as "Web Feeds.")
After you put the first Web Feed into you RSS Feed Reader and have
up-to-date notices delivered to you without worry about
opening an email notice, you'll appreciate how great this RSS stuff
really is. Try It. You'll enjoy it!.
......Richard |
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